THE DEBATES ABOUT KADARE Politicians united only when he insults them Teodor Keko On Sunday, “Gazeta Shqiptare” published a conversation between the newspaper and Ismail Kadare, a leading figure in Albanian letters. Our interest in the views of a figure of such stature is understandable; he has repeatedly shown that he knows the reality and its characters. In this conversation, Kadare also speaks about the Albanian political class. In short, he says that Albania today is “sick.” The Albanian political class, Kadare says, is not only failing to try to heal the country, but seems interested in the opposite. Visually speaking, this class likes to strut and puff itself up, enjoys posing, and dreams and works in a Machiavellian manner, solely to seize power. He adds that this class has no principles and that, if it continues down this path, its end will be in the bosom of The Hague! Yesterday, before the Albanian weekend had even properly passed, our politicians hurried to contradict Kadare. Republican Mediu (as he calls himself!) told Kadare: “Oh, we know all that too!” (that is, he accepts the accusations!). “You get into the game, if you dare! ... Something new!” He repeated what Berisha said about his former comrades-in-arms. He is milder than the father of the socialists, Agolli. He is far less ironic than veteran republican Godo and has none of Babo Natale’s cynicism. Çeka! We, who live in this country, have publicly expressed our position on our “class” of politicians, which is: 1. When a country is destroyed, all politicians are to blame, because they were unable to prevent the catastrophe through compromises and instead poured gasoline on the fire! Without exception, all the “captains” of Albanian politics must leave our political stage in disgrace! 2. Our politicians are thieves! They enter politics with nothing in their pockets and today have apartments where you could even play billiards, luxury cars, businesses, etc. Where did they get the money, when the law prohibits them from conducting private business? 3. The government and the opposition are in a pact of “qadis”—they sign and stamp; it is built on CLANS! (Lists with specific names have been published!) 4. Our politicians are ignorant, conceited and unbelievably stupid—you couldn’t find their equals even if you crossed Albania from end to end on a lame donkey! (Specific examples have also been provided for this accusation.) Naturally, politicians will contradict Kadare; that doesn’t take a prophecy! But their “argument” is saddening: a petty, feminine, spiteful argument! When a genius expresses his thoughts, you say THANK YOU, even when you disagree! You don’t remind a genius, who works for this country more than Milo’s ministry and Nano’s government, of history; you don’t demand names from him, and you don’t say to him with thuggish cynicism: “It can be done better, come on, do it yourself!” … I doubt Kadare on only one point: It is known that these people belong in The Hague, but would the people in The Hague deal with these people, who have driven all of us out of our minds? I fear the doctors won’t let them go to trial… … and the Albanian weekend, our politicians hurried to oppose Kadare. Republican Mediu (as he calls himself!) told Kadare: “Hey, we know all this too!” (In other words, you dare! Alliance member Ceka opposes Kadare with the “argument”: “Speak using specific names!” Socialist Ruci “defends himself” along two lines: first, if Kadare is right, the Albanian people have no governing ability(!); and second, why didn’t Kadare speak when we were eating arul? (In a word: since you didn’t speak then, don’t speak now!). Even the “fourth-generation” Democrat, Xhaferri, is against Kadare! He considers him a writer, but refuses to accept that there are clans in politics! The fact that our politicians have no morals is evident from the way they joined together for the first time in a fast, as soon as their comfort was touched! They joined together precisely these people, who have not joined together even for the sake of Albania! They opposed precisely those hundreds of pages of parliamentary debates and newspaper articles that they have scribbled over all these years, according to circumstances and positions, on exactly the things Kadare spoke about. Kadare says nothing—

FACTIONS IN THE SP / Ruçi: They should speak within the party. Criticism is allowed From Agolli to Brokaj, factions against the Prime Minister Pëllumbi: Nano’s leadership must be put to a vote at the Congress FACTIONS IN THE SP / Ruçi: They should speak within the party. Criticism is allowed Five Socialist parties From Agolli to Brokaj, factions against the Prime Minister Pëllumbi: Nano’s leadership must be put to a vote at the Congress TIRANA—Five parties in one. Today’s SP seems less united than ever before, even compared with the period of the Nano motion two years ago. Back then, only two wings had taken shape within the party, whereas today there are as many as five, three of them staunch opponents of the chairman. The newest of all is the Brokaj grouping or faction, made up of a number of people dissatisfied with Nano’s policies, including former ministers, who have openly accused Nano of being incapable of running the government. Meanwhile, the strongest of the opponents appears to be Agolli, also because of the considerable weight of his words and his influence among the Socialist electorate. Professor Pëllumbi, meanwhile, seems to be the clearest in his views and criticism of Nano; he recently called for an SP Congress to be held. On page 3

GUNFIRE IN THE OUTSKIRTS TIRANA—The masked men have gone too far this time! It is not known whether it was a coincidence for them or a carefully planned operation, but this time they caught a really big fish: the Prime Minister’s own luxury Mercedes, Rexhina’s. It was 10:00 p.m. on Tuesday when the notorious masked men lay in wait at a spot in the capital that has become a favorite of theirs: Ohxhak, where they saw a gleaming black Benz-Mercedes appear on the horizon. They did not hesitate: in a tightly packed group they set an ambush, aided by the Kalashnikovs in their hands. The Benz stopped; it is said that the driver and Nano’s close escort got out of the car. It was impossible for them to dllo[p?] from the novimi. Surrounded on all sides by the hooded men and the barrels of their automatic weapons, they left the luxury vehicle in the hands of the unexpected attackers. After this, all hell broke loose in Tirana: police cars raced from one end of Tirana to the other to catch the perpetrators of this robbery. Rexhina’s two drivers were in a real bind; stranded on foot, they radioed their colleagues, who came to pick them up after several hours of waiting. Despite the police’s extensive searches, the Benz has not been found, but the authorities have at least identified its registration number, TR 5157 A, a white plate. It is said that this last detail thoroughly confused the masked men, who did not know that recently some state vehicle plates have become yellow and white. Otherwise, they would not have dared to stop it.

Democratic MP: I am determined to go Committee opposes him: “He must not set foot there” Democratic MP: I am determined to go Hajdari in Vlora: invitation and fear Committee opposes him: “He must not set foot there” TIRANA—Vlora is preparing to receive Hajdari, Pollo and Ritvan Bode. Although Pollo and Bode have tasted “victory” in the city of protests on other occasions, it seems that the unexpected and bold visit by Hajdari has caused the most controversy. “I will not ‘THE KING’ RETURNS TO ALBANIA AND CHALLENGES PRISON

SHKODER—Conflict between the Prefecture and the Ministry of Health. The appointment of the number two of the white coats, Millan Janko, has irritated Shkodra’s leaders, who consider his appointment unfair. In an open letter, Prefect Laçej reveals all the mysteries surrounding the appointment. On page 6

TIRANA—Vlora is preparing to receive Hajdari, Pollo and Ritvan Bode. “I am not afraid to go anywhere in Albania; I campaigned on 29 June amid bullets,” Azem Hajdari told Gazeta Shqiptare yesterday. The local leader of Vlora’s Socialists, Niko Veizi, was just as indifferent. “These are discredited individuals not only in Vlora but throughout Albania; I consider it beneath me to talk about them,” Veizi said bluntly yesterday. On page 2

Two more days of rain TIRANE - Images of the flooded villages of Lezhë have put the entire north on alert. Reports of rising river water levels following the heavy rainfall of the past two days have sounded the alarm in Tirana. On page 4

TIRANE - The king is once again trying to return to his homeland. Leka Zogu, heir to the royal throne, is expected to return to Albania after a long summer holiday in Johannesburg. Legal sources confirmed yesterday that all preparations have been made for as grand and, moreover, secure a reception for him as possible. According to the confirmations that have emerged, Leka Zogu may return to his homeland again at the end of May or beginning of June. Although there is an open case against the heir to the throne before the Justice system, legal sources had said that this would not pose a problem. On page 2 Leka Zogu during rallies for the monarchy

GAZETA of Vlorë VLORE - A crackdown on bingo halls in Vlorë. This time, the tax office has shut down four of them and imposed several multi-million-lek fines. Inspections are being carried out to check whether they have licenses, which most of them do not. Meanwhile, four more bingo halls have opened in Vlorë, the latest and greatest passion of the people of Vlorë. On page 7

GAZETA of Durrës DURRES - Water and electricity have driven the residents of Xhafzotaj to protest. Hours without service in the municipality alongside the Tirana-Durrës road led to the road being blocked. The decision was taken by dozens of household heads at around 21:30 on Tuesday, and police intervention resolved the situation. On page 8

Meanwhile, Kosovo reports new deaths TIRANE - NATO will not intervene in Albania; the decision was unexpectedly made yesterday in Brussels, throwing even official Tirana into confusion. The North Atlantic Alliance did not consider military involvement on Albanian soil appropriate at this time. “Albania must help itself,” the ministers of the fifteen-member alliance concluded, leaving unresolved a request that has long been coming from the offices of Tirana. Meanwhile, Albanian officials have chosen not to respond to this unexpected decision. On page 11